Surname Faiß - Meaning and Origin

Faiß: What does the surname Faiß mean?

The last name Faiß is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German word ‘fas’ meaning ‘speed’ or ‘rapidity’. The Faiß surname is believed to have originated in Bavaria, Germany, during the medieval era. It was likely a hereditary name given to someone in a profession requiring speed or quickness, such as a messenger or courier. In Bavarian dialect, this surname is pronounced "fice".

Other variations of the Faiß surname include Faiss, Faisz, Fais, Faisse, and Faise. During the 18th and 19th centuries, many Germans immigrated to America. As a result, this surname is found in many locations throughout the United States.

Throughout history, many members of the Faiß family have made notable contributions in a variety of fields. For example, German biologist and embryologist Walther Faiß is known for his groundbreaking research on the embryonic development of sea urchins.

The Faiß surname has also been associated with wine production in the Nahe region of Germany since the 19th century. Johann Faiß established a winery in 1836 and to this day, the Faiß family is still involved in the production of quality wines.

Today, Faiß is a common surname in Germany, and the many descendants of the original Faiß family continue to honor this proud family name.

Faiß: Where does the name Faiß come from?

The last name Faiß is most common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, although it is also sometimes found in other German-speaking countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. It is a unique last name, with fewer than 500 occurrences of the name in the United States as of 2020.

The name Faiß is derived from the Middle High German name “faiß”, a toponym meaning “small valley”, “dale”, or “ravine”. It is also sometimes found as the variant “Faiss”.

In Germany, the name is most commonly found in the states of Bavaria, Hessen, and North Rhine-Westphalia. In Austria, it is most frequently encountered in the states of Viennese, Salzburg, and Styria.

Faiß is an endangered name in Germany, which is estimated to have fewer than 3,000 bearers of the family name today. In 2008, it was listed as one of the 31 endangered surnames in Bavaria, along with names such as Oppenheimer, Metzger, and Zwiebel.

The name was not common in the United States until the mid-twentieth century, when a small number of German immigrants arrived in the country and brought the name with them. The name is increasingly more common in America today, as German immigrants and their descendants continue to spread throughout the country.

Variations of the surname Faiß

The surname Faiß is a German patronymic surname most commonly associated with the Rhineland in Germany. It is derived from the Middle High German word “va(e)s”, meaning “brother” or “kinsman”.

Variants of the surname Faiß include Faiss, Fais, Faisse, Faisz, Faisch, Feis, Feisse, Feisser, Faisser, Faiz, Feiz, and Faysz. Variations in spelling of the same surname can occur due to misspelling or dialectal changes.

Surnames of the same origin as Faiß include Feyss, Feys, Faißer, Fisser, Fessler, Feisler, Feßer, Feesser, Feiser, Vass, Vaeß, Veis, Voyss, Fraw, Frouw, Frömke, Freimuth, and Friedmann.

The name has also spread across international borders in the form of Fayse, Fey, and Faiz, which are popular in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Brazil.

Faiß is just one branch of a larger family of names that is part of the same overall lineage. It is closely related to (or even derived from) surnames such as Voeß, Voß, Fouasse, Faas, Faizel, Feisel, Völker, Vehlke, Fuchs, and Fehse.

The variations and surnames make Faiß an interesting and complex surname. Its prevalence in Germany and across the world demonstrate its longevity and strength of the surname over time, as well as its connection to the Rhineland.

Famous people with the name Faiß

• Marcel Faißt, German footballer.
• Robert Faißt, German actor.
• Joseph Faißt, German television producer.
• Jürgen Faißt, German rock musician.
• Benny Faißt, Brazilian film director.
• Dominik Faißt, German television presenter.
• Claudia Faißt, German opera singer and actress.
• Kristina Faißt, German singer and songwriter.
• Thomas Faißt, German composer and music producer.
• Viktor Faißt, Russian poet and playwright.
• Sepp Faißt, Austian painter and sculptor.
• Peter Faißt, German composer and producer.
• Jens Faißt, German sculptor and painter.
• Franz Faißt, Polish architect and urban designer.
• Heinz Faißt, German musician and composer.
• Sebastian Faißt, German Olympic hurdler.
• Manfred Faißt, German painter.
• Hans Faißt, Austrian politician and minister.
• Michael Faißt, German singer and songwriter.
• Maximilian Faißt, Austrian amateur astronomer.

Other surnames

Faißt